System for remote monitoring and control of an instrument

ABSTRACT

Web-based instrument interface software executing on an instrument controller computer system receives a web file from web browsing software executing on a remote computer, extracts a command or a request for status information from the web file, generates and transmits to an analytical instrument a signal indicative of the extracted command or request for status information, receives a signal from the analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof, and generates and transmits to the web browsing software executing on the remote computer a web file based on the received signal from the analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of now abandoned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/086,914, filed Mar. 1, 2002, which claims thebenefit of under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/272,553, filed Mar. 1, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved analytical instrument, andmore particularly to an analytical instrument incorporating remotemonitoring and control features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of analytical instruments are well known and widely usedin many settings. Common examples of such instruments include molecularspectroscopy instruments, thermal and elemental analysis instruments,inorganic analysis instruments, chromatography instruments, and numerousothers. Such instruments can often be found in research laboratories,universities, medical laboratories, and in many other locations.

Traditionally, analytical instruments included some integrated type ofuser interface which allowed a user to control operation of theinstrument and to observe instrument output. However, this arrangementsuffered from a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage was thatthe interface, being an integral part of the instrument, was not easilymodified or upgradeable. If it was desired to upgrade the interface inany significant way, it was often necessary to replace the entireinterface. Another disadvantage was that, although the integratedinterfaces may have allowed for some rudimentary storage andmanipulation of output data, such functions were typically severelylimited.

With the advent of the personal computer, these disadvantages wereobviated by interfacing analytical instruments with an instrumentcontroller computer rather than or in addition to the integratedinterface. The user interface could then comprise computer softwareexecuting on the instrument controller computer. This allowed for theprovision of more complex instrument operations as well as facilitatingthe storage and manipulation of output data. Connecting the instrumentto an instrument control computer having instrument interface softwareexecuting thereon also provided the benefit of allowing the instrumentcontrol interface to be easily modified or updated simply by updatingthe software. However, such arrangements still suffered from a number ofdisadvantages. One of such disadvantages was that the instrument couldonly be controlled by, and the instrument output data could only byviewed on, the particular instrument control computer directly connectedto the instrument.

It was discovered that this and other disadvantages could be obviated ifthe instrument controller computer was connected to a network ofcomputers. Referring to FIG. 1, a known network 10 incorporating aninstrument controller computer 12 is shown. Instrument controllercomputer 12 generally comprises a CPU, a memory, and various input andoutput devices, as is commonly known. One or more analytical instruments14, 16, 18 are directly connected to instrument controller computer 12by way of some hard-wired connection, such as a serial or parallelconnection. Executing on instrument controller computer 12 is instrumentinterface software. The instrument interface software is used to controleach of analytical instruments 14, 16, 18 connected to instrumentcontroller computer 12. More specifically, instrument interface softwarereceives user input, for example, by receiving commands via keystrokes,menus, icons, etc., and translates this user input into control signalswhich are transmitted to the appropriate one of analytical instruments14, 16, 18 by way of the hard-wired connection. The instrument interfacesoftware also receives signals output by each of analytical instruments14, 16, 18 via the hard-wired connection, translates the signals intodata useful to the user, and displays the data. The data may also bestored on an instrument database 20 connected to instrument controllercomputer 12.

It should be noted that the instrument interface software is typicallyunique to each instrument 14, 16, 18 being controlled. Thus, differentsoftware must be employed to control different types or even differentmodels of instruments supplied by the same manufacturer and to controlthe same types of instruments supplied by different manufacturers. Assuch, the particular instrument cannot be controlled by instrumentcontroller computer 12 unless the unique instrument interface softwarewhich is appropriate for the particular instrument desired to becontrolled has been installed on instrument controller computer 12.

One or more additional computers 22, 24, 26 may be in communication withinstrument controller computer 12 by a network connection 28, such as anintranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), avirtual private network (VPN) or the like. Computers 22, 24, 26 may beused to control one or more of instruments 14, 16,18 so long as computer22, 24, 26 has the unique instrument interface software which isappropriate for the particular instrument desired to be controlledinstalled thereon. When such is the case, instruments 14, 16,18 arecontrolled by computers 22, 24, 26 as described above with respect toinstrument controller computer 12. More specifically, the instrumentinterface software executing on computers 22, 24, 26 receives commandsvia keystrokes, menus, icons, etc., and translates this user input intocontrol signals which are transmitted to the appropriate one ofanalytical instruments 14, 16, 18 via network connection 28, instrumentcontroller computer 12 and the hard-wired connection. The instrumentinterface software also receives signals output by each of analyticalinstruments 14, 16, 18 via the hard-wired connection, instrumentcontroller computer 12 and network connection 28, translates the signalsinto data useful to the user, and displays the data.

Although network 10 allows a user to control instruments 14, 16, 18using computers 22, 24, 26 other than instrument controller computer 12directly connected to instruments 14, 16, 18, network 10 still suffersfrom a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that any ofcomputers 22, 24, 26 which are utilized to control instruments 14, 16,18 must have the appropriate instrument interface software installedthereon. This is disadvantageous for a number of reasons. For example,it may be desirable for a user to be able to control an instrument froma computer which is not typically used for instrument control (e.g.,from home or while traveling). It would be highly disadvantageous torequire the user to install the appropriate instrument interfacesoftware on such computers. Moreover, when the instrument interfacesoftware is updated, network 10 would require that the instrumentinterface software be updated on each of the (possibly numerous)computers 22, 24, 26 on network 10 in addition to instrument controllercomputer 12. This would be a time-consuming and inefficient process.

What is desired, therefore, is an analytic instrument which incorporatesremote monitoring and control features, which includes an interfacewhich is easily modifiable or upgradeable, which facilitates storage andmanipulation of output data, and which does not require that instrumentinterface software unique to the instrument be installed on computersused to remotely monitor and control the instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ananalytic instrument which incorporates remote monitoring and controlfeatures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an analyticinstrument having the above characteristics and which includes aninterface which is easily modifiable or upgradeable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an analyticinstrument having the above characteristics and which facilitatesstorage and manipulation of output data.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an analyticinstrument having the above characteristics and which does not requirethat instrument interface software unique to the instrument be installedon computers used to remotely monitor and control the instrument.

In one embodiment, these and other objects of the present invention areachieved by provision of a web-based instrument and data managementsystem including an instrument controller computer system having atleast one analytical instrument connected thereto. At least one remotecomputer is in communication with the instrument controller computersystem via a network connection, the at least one remote computer havingweb browser software executing thereon. Web-based instrument interfacesoftware executing on the instrument controller computer system receivesa web file from the web browsing software executing on the at least oneremote computer, extracts a command or a request for status informationfrom the web file, generates and transmits to the at least oneanalytical instrument a signal indicative of the extracted command orrequest for status information, receives a signal from the at least oneanalytical instrument indicative of the status thereof, and generatesand transmits to the web browsing software executing on the at least oneremote computer a web file based upon the received signal from the atleast one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof.

In a related embodiment, the system further includes an instrumentdatabase accessible by the instrument controller computer system. Inthis embodiment, web-based instrument interface software executing onthe instrument controller computer system receives a web file from theweb browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer,extracts a request for data from the web file, retrieves the requesteddata from the at least one analytical instrument or the instrumentdatabase, and generates and transmits to the web browsing softwareexecuting on the at least one remote computer a web file based upon theretrieved requested data.

The instrument controller computer system may comprise a singleinstrument controller computer or an instrument controller computer anda web server computer. Moreover, the at least one remote computer may bein communication with the instrument controller computer system via theInternet. Preferably, the web files comprise HTML files. It is alsopreferable that the web-based instrument interface software confirmswhether a user of the at least one remote computer is authorized for thecommand, the request for status information or the request for databefore executing the user's command.

In another aspect of the invention, a web-based instrument and datamanagement system includes an instrument controller computer systemhaving at least one analytical instrument connected thereto. The systemalso includes a permissions database accessible by the instrumentcontroller computer system. At least one remote computer is incommunication with the instrument controller computer system via anetwork connection, the at least one remote computer having web browsersoftware executing thereon. Web-based instrument interface softwareexecuting on the instrument controller computer system receives a webfile from the web browsing software executing on the at least one remotecomputer, extracts a user identifier and a requested action from the webfile, determines whether a user of the at least one remote computer isauthorized for the requested action based upon the user identifier, therequested action and data stored on the permissions database, performsthe requested action if the user is authorized, and if the user is notauthorized generates and transmits to the web browsing softwareexecuting on the at least one remote computer a web file indicating thatthe user is not authorized for the requested action.

The requested action may comprise an instrument command, a request forinstrument status information or a request for data.

The invention and its particular features and advantages will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description considered withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an analytical instrument incorporating aprior art instrument controller network;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an analytical instrumentincorporating a web-based instrument and data management system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of an analyticalinstrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data managementsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail operation of theanalytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and datamanagement system of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail operation of anembodiment of an authorization scheme which may be employed by theanalytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and datamanagement system of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the instrumentcontrol and status monitoring aspects of the analytical instrumentincorporating a web-based instrument and data management system of FIGS.2 and 3; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the data managementaspect of the analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrumentand data management system of FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 2, a web-based instrument and data managementsystem 110 in accordance with the present invention is shown. System 110includes an instrument controller computer 112 which generally comprisesa CPU, a memory, and various input and output devices, as is commonlyknown. One or more analytical instruments 114, 116, 118 are directlyconnected to instrument controller computer 112 by way of somehard-wired connection, such as a serial or parallel connection.Executing on instrument controller computer 112 is web-based instrumentinterface software 120. One or more additional computers 122, 124, 126may be in communication with instrument controller computer 112 by anetwork connection 128, such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN),a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN) or the like.Instrument controller computer 112 and additional computers 122, 124,126 thus comprise a first network 130 connected by network connection128.

As is similar to network 10 shown in FIG. 1, web-based instrumentinterface software 120 is used to control each of analytical instruments114, 116, 118 connected to instrument controller computer 112. Morespecifically, web-based instrument interface software 120 receives userinput, for example, by receiving commands via keystrokes, menus, icons,etc., and translates this user input into control signals which aretransmitted to the appropriate one of analytical instruments 114, 116,118 by way of the hard-wired connection. Web-based instrument interfacesoftware 120 also receives signals output by each of analyticalinstruments 114, 116, 118 via the hard-wired connection, translates thesignals into data useful to the user, and displays the data. The datamay also be stored on an instrument database 121 connected to instrumentcontroller computer 112.

However, unlike network 10 shown in FIG. 1, web-based instrumentinterface software 120 is web-enabled, meaning that it may beimplemented on a system of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 which iscomprised of a client side (comprising additional computers 122, 124,126) and server side (comprising instrument controller computer 112)interconnected by network connection 128. On the client side of thesystem, each of computers 122, 124, 126 runs a web browser. Computer122, 124, 126 may be any suitable type of computer such as an Applecomputer, IBM or IBM compatible computer, UNIX workstation, etc. On theserver side of the system, instrument controller computer 112 has webserver software running on an appropriate machine as is known in theart. The web server software may comprise a part of instrument interfacesoftware 120 or may be discrete therefrom. The web server software maycomprise, for example, Microsoft Information Server or Peer Web Serviceincluding the Active Server Pages framework incorporating a scriptingengine.

The client side of the system may also comprise additional computers onadditional networks 132, 134, 136 as well as additional stand alonecomputers, such as home computers 138, 140, 142, connected to instrumentcontroller computer 112 via the Internet. All that is required ofadditional computers on additional networks 132, 134, 136 and additionalstand alone computers, such as home computers 138, 140, 142, is thateach of such computers has a web browser running thereon. In addition,instrument and data management system 110 may include a permissionsdatabase 144 accessible by instrument controller computer 112, thepurpose of which is described more fully below.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the server software of system110′ is running on a server computer 146, rather than on instrumentcontroller computer 112′. In this case, web-based instrument interfacesoftware 120′ may also be running on server computer 146. Insubstantially all other respects, instrument and data management system110′ operates as discussed with respect to instrument and datamanagement system 110.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, web-based instrument interface 120generates HTML flies using Active Server Page files in response torequests from the web browser 148 running on computers on the clientside (including computers 122, 124, 126, additional computers onadditional networks 132, 134, 136 and additional stand alone computers,such as home computers 138, 140, 142). More specifically, web-basedinstrument interface 120 receives input, including command, from remoteusers via an HTML file 150 via a network connection. Web-basedinstrument interface 120 extracts commands from HTML file 150 andgenerates and transmits command signals 152 to an instrument, forexample instrument 114. Instrument 114 can then execute the commandsrepresented by command signals 152. Remote users can view and managedata 154 received either directly from instrument 114 or from instrumentdatabase 121 in a similar manner. Data 154 is received by web-basedinstrument interface 120, and is incorporated into an HTML file 156which is then transmitted to web browser 148 via a network connection.In this manner instrument 114 can be controlled and monitored from aremote location using a computer with only a web browser runningthereon.

Web-based instrument interface 120 preferably includes a userauthorization routine to prevent unauthorized control of instrumentsand/or access to unauthorized data. Referring now to FIG. 5, an exampleof such an authorization scheme is illustrated. Web-based instrumentinterface 120 receives from the user a unique user identifier at 200,and awaits user input at 202. At 204, web-based instrument interface 120receives from the user an instrument command for a particular one ofinstruments 114, 116, 118, a request for status information data for aparticular one of instruments 114, 116, 118, and/or a request forparticular data for a particular one of instruments 114, 116, 118.Web-based instrument interface 120 then determines, at 206, whether theparticular user (based upon the received user identifier) is authorizedfor the requested action. The information to allow web-based instrumentinterface to make this determination is stored on permissions database144. If the user is so authorized, web-based instrument interface 120executes the requested command and/or transmits the requested statusinformation or data, as indicated at 208. If the user is not soauthorized, web-based instrument interface 120 generates and transmitsto the user a message, as indicated at 210, informing the user that heor she is not authorized for the requested action. Web-based instrumentinterface 120 then awaits further user input.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the command and status information portion ofthe authorization scheme is shown in more detail. A user, by way of auser computer 212 running a web browser transmits to web-basedinstrument interface 120 one or more HTML files 214 which include his orher unique user identifier and an instrument command for a particularone of instruments 114, 116, 118 and/or a request for status informationdata for a particular one of instruments 114, 116, 118. Web-basedinstrument interface 120 then determines for the particular one ofinstruments 114, 116, 118 for which action was requested (as indicatedat 216, 216′, 216″) whether the user is authorized for the requestedaction. If the user is so authorized, the command is transmitted byweb-based instrument interface 120 to the appropriate instrument 114,116, 118 (as indicated at 218) and/or the status information istransmitted by the appropriate instrument 114, 116, 118 to web-basedinstrument interface 120 (as indicated at 220). Web-based instrumentinterface 120 then generates and transmits to user computer 212 an HTMLfile 220 informing the user that he or she is not authorized for therequested action, confirming that the requested command has beenexecuted or displaying the requested instrument status information.

Data concerning whether the user is authorized for the requested actionis stored on permissions database 144 which is accessible by web-basedinstrument interface. It should be understood that great flexibility ispossible using this authorization scheme. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the user may be authorized to give commands and receive statusinformation for only one or a select number of instruments 114, 116,118. Moreover, the user may be authorized, for example, to view statusinformation for one or more instruments 114, 116, 118, but not beauthorized to give commands. Furthermore, the user may be authorizedonly to give certain commands and/or to view only certain statusinformation for particular instruments 114, 116, 118.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the data management portion of theauthorization scheme is shown in more detail. A user, by way of a usercomputer 212 running a web browser transmits to web-based instrumentinterface 120 one or more HTML files 222 which include his or her uniqueuser identifier and a request for data for a particular one ofinstruments 114, 116, 118. Web-based instrument interface 120 thendetermines for the particular one of instruments 114, 116, 118 for whichdata was requested (as indicated at 224, 224′, 224″) whether the user isauthorized to view the requested data. If the user is so authorized, thedata 226, 226′, 226″ is transmitted by the instrument database 120 toweb-based instrument interface 120 (as indicated at 228). Web-basedinstrument interface 120 then generates and transmits to user computer212 an HTML file 230 informing the user that he or she is not authorizedto view the requested data or displaying the requested data.

Data concerning whether the user is authorized for the requested actionis stored on permissions database 144 which is accessible by web-basedinstrument interface. It should be understood that great flexibility ispossible using this authorization scheme. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the user may be authorized to view data for only one or a selectnumber of instruments 114, 116,118. Moreover, the user may be authorizedonly to view certain data files for a particular instrument, but notother data files for that instrument.

The present invention, therefore, provides an analytic instrument whichincorporates remote monitoring and control features, which includes aninterface which is easily modifiable or upgradeable, which facilitatesstorage and manipulation of output data, and which does not require thatinstrument interface software unique to the instrument be installed oncomputers used to remotely monitor and control the instrument.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particulararrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended toexhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many othermodifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill inthe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A web-based instrument and data management systemcomprising: an instrument controller computer system; at least oneanalytical instrument connected to said instrument controller computersystem; at least one remote computer in communication with saidinstrument controller computer system via a network connection, said atleast one remote computer having web browser software executing thereon;and web-based instrument interface software executing on said instrumentcontroller computer system, said web-based instrument interface softwarereceiving a web file from the web browsing software executing on said atleast one remote computer, extracting a command or request for statusinformation from the web file, generating and transmitting to said atleast one analytical instrument a signal indicative of the extractedcommand or request for status information, receiving a signal from saidat least one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof, andgenerating and transmitting to the web browsing software executing onsaid at least one remote computer a web file based upon the receivedsignal from said at least one analytical instrument indicative of thestatus thereof.
 2. The web-based instrument and data management systemof claim 1 wherein said instrument controller computer system comprisesa single instrument controller computer.
 3. The web-based instrument anddata management system of claim 1 wherein said instrument controllercomputer system comprises an instrument controller computer and a webserver computer.
 4. The web-based instrument and data management systemof claim 1 wherein said at least one remote computer is in communicationwith said instrument controller computer system via the Internet.
 5. Theweb-based instrument and data management system of claim 1 wherein theweb files comprise HTML files.
 6. The web-based instrument and datamanagement system of claim 1 wherein said web-based instrument interfacesoftware confirms whether a user of said at least one remote computer isauthorized for the command or request for status information beforetransmitting to said at least one analytical instrument a signalindicative of the extracted command or request for status information.7. A method of web-based instrument and data management comprising thesteps of: providing an instrument controller computer system having atleast one analytical instrument connected thereto; providing at leastone remote computer in communication with the instrument controllercomputer system via a network connection, the at least one remotecomputer having web browser software executing thereon; receiving a webfile from the web browsing software executing on the at least one remotecomputer; extracting a command or request for status information fromthe web file; generating and transmitting to the at least one analyticalinstrument a signalindicative of the extracted command or request forstatus information; receiving a signal from the at least one analyticalinstrument indicative of the status thereof; and generating andtransmitting to the web browsing software executing on the at least oneremote computer a web file based upon the received signal from the atleast one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof.
 8. Themethod of web-based instrument and data management of claim 7 whereinthe at least one remote computer is in communication with the instrumentcontroller computer system via the Internet.
 9. The method of web-basedinstrument and data management of claim 7 wherein the web files compriseHTML files.
 10. The method of web-based instrument and data managementof claim 7 further comprising the step of confirming whether a user ofthe at least one remote computer is authorized for the command orrequest for status information before transmitting to the at least oneanalytical instrument a signal indicative of the extracted command orrequest for status information.
 11. A web-based instrument and datamanagement system comprising: an instrument controller computer system;at least one analytical instrument connected to said instrumentcontroller computer system; at least one remote computer Incommunication with said instrument controller computer system via anetwork connection, said at least one remote computer having web browsersoftware executing thereon; and web-based instrument interface softwareexecuting on said instrument controller computer system, said web-basedinstrument interface software receiving a HTML file from the webbrowsing software executing on said at least one remote computer,extracting a command or request for status information from the HTMLfile, generating and transmitting to said at least one analyticalinstrument a signal indicative of the extracted command or request forstatus information, receiving a signal from said at least one analyticalinstrument indicative of the status thereof, and generating andtransmitting to the web browsing software executing on said at least oneremote computer a HTML file based upon the received signal from said atleast one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof.